Taiwan Stands Firm on Defense, President Concludes Week of Defense Programs

Taiwan’s message to the international community is clear: it is determined to defend itself, and citizens should not believe any claims suggesting it would surrender in the event of an attack, President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday, as he wrapped up a week of defense-related events.

Democratically governed Taiwan faces mounting military pressure from China, which views the island as part of its territory. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s claims, maintaining that only the island’s people have the right to decide their future.

Speaking at a forum highlighting Taiwan’s preparedness for natural disasters or war, Lai referred to the government’s new civil defense handbook, launched on Tuesday to help citizens prepare for a potential Chinese assault.

Addressing an audience that included Western diplomats in Taipei, Lai said the handbook provides crucial information on how to stay safe.

Quoting one of its central messages, he stressed: “Even more importantly, we tell everyone: in the event of a military invasion of Taiwan, any claim that the government has surrendered or that the nation has been defeated is false.” Using Taiwan’s formal name, he added: “As Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of China’s armed forces, I want my fellow citizens and the international community to know that this is Taiwan’s position.”

“We are determined to defend freedom, democracy, and a sustainable Taiwan,” he said.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

This week, Taiwan hosted its largest-ever arms show, drawing numerous international companies eager to tap into the island’s rapidly expanding defense budget. Taiwan has been actively seeking closer cooperation with global defense firms, including joint weapons production.

At the opening of a new office in Taipei on Saturday, Brandon Tseng, president of U.S.-based Shield AI, said his company could hire hundreds of employees in Taiwan over the next three to five years.

“This is a region Shield AI is deeply investing in and fully committed to,” Tseng said. On Friday, he met with President Lai during a visit to the arms exhibition, where the company showcased its V-BAT drones, already tested in combat in Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Shield AI signed a “teaming agreement” with Taiwan’s state-owned defense contractor, Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (2634.TW). Tseng declined to give details about potential sales to Taiwan.